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Assessment of proximate composition and tetrodotoxin content in the muscle of yellow puffer fish, xenopterus naritus (richardson 1848) from Sarawak, Malaysia

Mohd Nor Azman, A., Samsur, M., Mohammed, M., Fasihuddin, B.A.

International Food Research Journal, 2015;22(6):2280-2287.
MyJurnal

This study is to report the proximate compositions as well as tetrodotoxin (TTX) content in the muscles of yellow puffer fish Xenopterus naritus that collected from Kg. Manggut and Kabong, Sarawak. The internal organs of 26 and 20 specimens from Kg. Manggut and Kabong respectively were removed by the local people that had skills and experiences with the preparation of yellow puffer fish. In general, the moisture contents were ranging between 75.2% and 80.6%. X. naritus from Kabong showed higher crude protein contents (88.2% dry weight) than the same species from Kg. Manggut (87.9% dry weight) and not significantly different (p>0.05). X. naritus from Kg. Manggut demonstrated a significantly higher (p
Fulltext Effect of mixing period, water and sugar on the sesame cracker dough stickiness

Tan, S.B., Shamsudin, R., Mohammed, M. A., Rahman, N. A.

International Food Research Journal, 2016;23(101):249-254.
MyJurnal

Sesame Cracker or Kuih Bijan is a popular traditional Malays snack in Malaysia. The simplest
formulation of Sesame Cracker dough includes glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water. In order
to reduce the negative effect caused by dough stickiness, the effect of mixing period (3 to 7
minutes), water (41.6 to 45.6%) and sugar (1 to 9%) on dough stickiness of sesame cracker
dough were studied using Texture Analyzer and Chen-Hoseney methodologies (i.e. Chen-
Hoseney Dough Stickiness Cell). The result obtained showing that the increment of mixing
time, water and sugar addition, increased the dough stickiness, work of adhesion/adhesiveness
and dough strength/cohesiveness. However, overmixing of dough had led to the decrease of
these parameters.
Fulltext Question classification based on Bloom's taxonomy cognitive domain using modified TF-IDF and word2vec

Mohammed M, Omar N

PLoS One, 2020;15(3):e0230442.
PMID: 32191738 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230442

The assessment of examination questions is crucial in educational institutes since examination is one of the most common methods to evaluate students' achievement in specific course. Therefore, there is a crucial need to construct a balanced and high-quality exam, which satisfies different cognitive levels. Thus, many lecturers rely on Bloom's taxonomy cognitive domain, which is a popular framework developed for the purpose of assessing students' intellectual abilities and skills. Several works have been proposed to automatically handle the classification of questions in accordance with Bloom's taxonomy. Most of these works classify questions according to specific domain. As a result, there is a lack of technique of classifying questions that belong to the multi-domain areas. The aim of this paper is to present a classification model to classify exam questions based on Bloom's taxonomy that belong to several areas. This study proposes a method for classifying questions automatically, by extracting two features, TFPOS-IDF and word2vec. The purpose of the first feature was to calculate the term frequency-inverse document frequency based on part of speech, in order to assign a suitable weight for essential words in the question. The second feature, pre-trained word2vec, was used to boost the classification process. Then, the combination of these features was fed into three different classifiers; K-Nearest Neighbour, Logistic Regression, and Support Vector Machine, in order to classify the questions. The experiments used two datasets. The first dataset contained 141 questions, while the other dataset contained 600 questions. The classification result for the first dataset achieved an average of 71.1%, 82.3% and 83.7% weighted F1-measure respectively. The classification result for the second dataset achieved an average of 85.4%, 89.4% and 89.7% weighted F1-measure respectively. The finding from this study showed that the proposed method is significant in classifying questions from multiple domains based on Bloom's taxonomy.
Fulltext Optical and Electrical Characteristics of Silicon Nanowires Prepared by Electroless Etching

Hutagalung SD, Fadhali MM, Areshi RA, Tan FD

Nanoscale Res Lett, 2017 Dec;12(1):425.
PMID: 28651386 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-017-2197-3

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were fabricated by the electroless etching of an n-type Si (100) wafer in HF/AgNO3. Vertically aligned and high-density SiNWs are formed on the Si substrates. Various shapes of SiNWs are observed, including round, rectangular, and triangular. The recorded maximum reflectance of the SiNWs is approximately 19.2%, which is much lower than that of the Si substrate (65.1%). The minimum reflectance of the SiNWs is approximately 3.5% in the near UV region and 9.8% in the visible to near IR regions. The calculated band gap energy of the SiNWs is found to be slightly higher than that of the Si substrate. The I-V characteristics of a freestanding SiNW show a linear ohmic behavior for a forward bias up to 2.0 V. The average resistivity of a SiNW is approximately 33.94 Ω cm.
Determinants and Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review

Hassanein MM, Huri HZ, Baig K, Abduelkarem AR

Nutrients, 2023 Jan 29;15(3).
PMID: 36771392 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030685

Hormonal fluctuations, excessive clothing covering, sunscreen use, changes in body fat composition, a vitamin D-deficient diet, and a sedentary lifestyle can all predispose postmenopausal women to vitamin D deficiency. An effective supplementation plan requires a thorough understanding of underlying factors to achieve the desired therapeutic concentrations. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the predictors that affect vitamin D status in postmenopausal women. From inception to October 2022, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and clinical trial registries. Randomized clinical trials of postmenopausal women taking supplements of vitamin D with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) measurement as the trial outcome were included. Two independent reviewers screened selected studies for full-text review. The final assessment covered 19 trials within 13 nations with participants aged 51 to 78. Vitamin D supplementation from dietary and pharmaceutical sources significantly increased serum 25(OH)D to optimal levels. Lower baseline serum 25(OH)D, lighter skin color, longer treatment duration, and prolonged skin exposure were all associated with a better response to vitamin D supplementation in postmenopausal women.
Fulltext Therapeutic Effects of Vitamin D on Vaginal, Sexual, and Urological Functions in Postmenopausal Women

Hassanein MM, Huri HZ, Abduelkarem AR, Baig K

Nutrients, 2023 Aug 30;15(17).
PMID: 37686835 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173804

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of growing evidence concerning vitamin D's potential role in women's health, specifically in postmenopausal women. This evidence also includes its connection to various genitourinary disorders and symptoms. Numerous clinical studies have observed improvements in vulvovaginal symptoms linked to the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) with vitamin D supplementation. These studies have reported positive effects on various aspects, such as vaginal pH, dryness, sexual functioning, reduced libido, and decreased urinary tract infections. Many mechanisms underlying these pharmacological effects have since been proposed. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) have been identified as a major contributor to its effects. It is now well known that VDRs are expressed in the superficial layers of the urogenital organs. Additionally, vitamin D plays a crucial role in supporting immune function and modulating the body's defense mechanisms. However, the characterization of these effects requires more investigation. Reviewing existing evidence regarding vitamin D's impact on postmenopausal women's vaginal, sexual, and urological health is the purpose of this article. As research in this area continues, there is a potential for vitamin D to support women's urogenital and sexual health during the menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods.
Fulltext Low vision rehabilitation and ocular problems among industrial workers in a developing country

Omar R, Knight VF, Aziz Mohammed MA

Malays Fam Physician, 2014;9(3):27-33.
PMID: 26425302 MyJurnal

Work-related ocular injuries and illnesses were among the major causes of job absenteeism. This study was conducted to determine if low vision rehabilitation was provided following work-related ocular problems among industrial workers in a developing country. This was a retrospective analysis of case records.
Fulltext Periodicity computation of generalized mathematical biology problems involving delay differential equations

Jasim Mohammed M, Ibrahim RW, Ahmad MZ

Saudi J Biol Sci, 2017 Mar;24(3):737-740.
PMID: 28386204 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.01.050

In this paper, we consider a low initial population model. Our aim is to study the periodicity computation of this model by using neutral differential equations, which are recognized in various studies including biology. We generalize the neutral Rayleigh equation for the third-order by exploiting the model of fractional calculus, in particular the Riemann-Liouville differential operator. We establish the existence and uniqueness of a periodic computational outcome. The technique depends on the continuation theorem of the coincidence degree theory. Besides, an example is presented to demonstrate the finding.
Fulltext Periodicity and positivity of a class of fractional differential equations

Ibrahim RW, Ahmad MZ, Mohammed MJ

Springerplus, 2016;5(1):824.
PMID: 27390664 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-2386-z

Fractional differential equations have been discussed in this study. We utilize the Riemann-Liouville fractional calculus to implement it within the generalization of the well known class of differential equations. The Rayleigh differential equation has been generalized of fractional second order. The existence of periodic and positive outcome is established in a new method. The solution is described in a fractional periodic Sobolev space. Positivity of outcomes is considered under certain requirements. We develop and extend some recent works. An example is constructed.
Fulltext Snakebite knowledge assessment and training of healthcare professionals in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East: A review

Michael GC, Bala AA, Mohammed M

Toxicon X, 2022 Dec;16:100142.
PMID: 36438018 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100142

Snakebite envenoming (SBE) is a common neglected tropical disease in rural communities of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Among the several challenges besetting the control of SBE is inadequate access to high-quality care by snakebite victims, partly contributed by inadequate knowledge of SBE among healthcare professionals (HCPs). This narrative review examined the existing literature on the knowledge of snakebites among HCPs, the factors associated with their knowledge of snakebites and their training needs. Data on the knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding snakebites appeared scanty and were predominantly from studies done in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. We found that the proportion of health workers with adequate knowledge of local medically important snakes could be as low as 20.2% in some settings in India, while as much as three-quarters of health workers still recommend tourniquets and Blackstone as first aid in some settings in India and Rwanda, respectively. In addition, the mean knowledge score of local snake-induced clinical syndromes could be as low as 46.2% in some settings in Ghana, while 52.7% of tertiary hospital doctors in northern Nigeria recommend antivenom in all snakebite cases. Similarly, 23% of Bhutan health workers have adequate overall knowledge of snakebite management. Furthermore, several sociodemographic characteristics of the HCPs (such as increasing age, years of experience, work setting, medical specialty, health profession and previous involvement in snakebite management) are associated with adequate snakebite knowledge. Moreover, most studies have consistently reported a lack of training on snakebites as a challenge. Therefore, the knowledge gaps identified could be incorporated into training programs and regional policies on SBE treatment protocols.
Fulltext Shockproof Deformable Infrared Radiation Sensors Based on a Polymeric Rubber and Organic Semiconductor H2Pc-CNT Composite

Chani MTS, Karimov KS, Kamal T, Fatima N, Rahman MM, Asiri AM

Polymers (Basel), 2023 Jun 15;15(12).
PMID: 37376337 DOI: 10.3390/polym15122691

Polymeric rubber and organic semiconductor H2Pc-CNT-composite-based surface- and sandwich-type shockproof deformable infrared radiation (IR) sensors were fabricated using a rubbing-in technique. CNT and CNT-H2Pc (30:70 wt.%) composite layers were deposited on a polymeric rubber substrate as electrodes and active layers, respectively. Under the effect of IR irradiation (0 to 3700 W/m2), the resistance and the impedance of the surface-type sensors decreased up to 1.49 and 1.36 times, respectively. In the same conditions, the resistance and the impedance of the sandwich-type sensors decreased up to 1.46 and 1.35 times, respectively. The temperature coefficients of resistance (TCR) of the surface- and sandwich-type sensors are 1.2 and 1.1, respectively. The novel ratio of the H2Pc-CNT composite ingredients and comparably high value of the TCR make the devices attractive for bolometric applications meant to measure the intensity of infrared radiation. Moreover, given their easy fabrication and low-cost materials, the fabricated devices have great potential for commercialization.
Impact of graphene oxide nanosheets and polymethyl methacrylate on nano/hybrid-based restoration dental filler composites: ultrasound behavior and antibacterial activity

Salam MA, Alsultany FH, Al-Bermany E, Sabri MM, Abdali K, Ahmed NM

J Ultrasound, 2024 Feb 07.
PMID: 38324099 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-023-00855-8

PURPOSE: Graphene-polymer nanocomposites significantly impact dental filler and antibacterial applications. The study aims to overcome some problems dental filers present and improve their properties and antibacterial activity. Synthesis graphene oxide (GO) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were used to reinforce two types of commercial hybrid/nano-dental fillings.
METHODS: Developed acoustic-solution-sonication-casting methods were applied to fabricate the new graphene-polymer-dental filler nanocomposites. The structure, morphology, rheological and mechanical properties, and antibacterial of the newly fabricated filling-PMMA/ GO nanocomposites were investigated.
RESULTS: Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) showed a significant interaction between the filling and the additional materials. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a considerable change in crystalline behavior. Optical microscope (OM) with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) pictures demonstrated a substantial change in the morphology of the samples with a homogeneous and fine dispersion of the nanomaterials in the filler matrix. Multi-frequency ultrasound mechanical properties measured the ultrasonic velocity, absorption coefficient, compressibility, bulk modulus, and other mechanical properties that notably enhanced after GO contributed up to 325% of the ultrasonic absorption coefficient compared with hybrid/nano-fillers. Rheological properties were measured as viscosity, absorption coefficient, and specific viscosity, which significantly improved after adding PMMA and incorporating GO up to 57% of the viscosity, compared with hybrid/nano-fillers. The inhibition zone of moth bacteria, such as Enterococcus faecalis and E. staph bacteria, improved after the contribution of GO nanosheets up to 46%.
CONCLUSION: Nanofillers nanocomposites presented better properties and inhabitances zone diameter of antibacterial.
Development and validation of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire (GSM-SVTAQ): An electronic patient-reported outcomes measure

Hassanein MM, Huri HZ, Baig K, Abduelkarem AR, Al-Momani M

Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2024 Feb;164(2):613-623.
PMID: 37702968 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15106

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate an electronic, patient-reported outcomes measure (PROM) specific for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) patients. The PROM aimed to accurately assess the burden of GSM symptoms, their impact on health-related and sexual quality of life, and the acceptability of vaginal treatments.
METHODS: The study encompassed a comprehensive three-stage approach to the development and validation of the PROM. Initially, during the preliminary design stage, the necessity for a new PROM was recognized, an expert panel was formed, and semi-structured qualitative interviews were carried out with GSM patients. In the second stage, the study used the five-step pre-validation methodology established by Prior et al. to generate and refine the PROM items. The third and final stage encompassed the determination of scale and item content validity indexes to ensure validity. Additionally, the reliability of each construct was evaluated using Cronbach's α.
RESULTS: The resulting PROM was named GSM-SVTAQ (GSM-symptoms and vaginal treatments acceptability questionnaire). It demonstrated excellent validity in assessing symptoms burden, health-related and sexual quality of life, and vaginal treatment acceptability, with high content validity indices and strong internal consistency. The scale content validity indices and Cronbach's α coefficients for the three domains were (0.926, 0.939), (0.875, 0.947), and (0.824, 0.855), respectively.
CONCLUSION: The GSM-SVTAQ stands as the first GSM-specific, valid, and reliable PROM capable of comprehensively measuring the three components of GSM and the acceptability of vaginal treatments. Its implementation has the potential to significantly enhance patient care and outcomes in GSM management.
Fulltext Semisolid metal processing techniques for nondendritic feedstock production

Mohammed MN, Omar MZ, Salleh MS, Alhawari KS, Kapranos P

ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:752175.
PMID: 24194689 DOI: 10.1155/2013/752175

Semisolid metal (SSM) processing or thixoforming is widely known as a technology that involves the formation of metal alloys between solidus and liquidus temperatures. For the procedure to operate successfully, the microstructure of the starting material must consist of solid near-globular grains surrounded by a liquid matrix and a wide solidus-to-liquidus transition area. Currently, this process is industrially successful, generating a variety of products with high quality parts in various industrial sectors. Throughout the years since its inception, a number of technologies to produce the appropriate globular microstructure have been developed and applied worldwide. The main aim of this paper is to classify the presently available SSM technologies and present a comprehensive review of the potential mechanisms that lead to microstructural alterations during the preparation of feedstock materials for SSM processing.
Notes From the Field: Availability of Satellite Pharmacies and Pharmacy Service Units in Nigerian Hospitals-Implications for Pharmaceutical Care

Daniel-Ebune E, Jatau AI, Burji SL, Mohammed M

Eval Health Prof, 2021 Jun;44(2):177-179.
PMID: 32552085 DOI: 10.1177/0163278720934174

The optimal provision of pharmaceutical care services requires an adequate number of pharmacists, satellite pharmacies and service units at healthcare facilities. We examined the availability of these requirements at Nigerian hospitals using the 2016 nationwide inspection reports of hospital pharmacies conducted by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria. Records of 254 hospitals inspected were retrieved, of which 171 (67.3%) were public. The total number of pharmacists across facilities was 753. The most common satellite pharmacy units recorded were antiretroviral 80 (31.5%) and emergency departments 48 (18.8%). The most common service units were drug revolving funds 176 (69.3%) and drug information 112 (44.1%) units. These findings suggest the availability of pharmacists, satellite pharmacies and service units are inadequate for the optimal delivery of pharmaceutical care services at healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Therefore, there is a need for interventions to improve the provision of pharmaceutical care services at health care facilities in Nigeria.
An experimental study on the performance of collaborative filtering based on user reviews for large-scale datasets

Al-Ghuribi S, Mohd Noah SA, Mohammed M

PeerJ Comput Sci, 2023;9:e1525.
PMID: 37705634 DOI: 10.7717/peerj-cs.1525

Collaborative filtering (CF) approaches generate user recommendations based on user similarities. These similarities are calculated based on the overall (explicit) user ratings. However, in some domains, such ratings may be sparse or unavailable. User reviews can play a significant role in such cases, as implicit ratings can be derived from the reviews using sentiment analysis, a natural language processing technique. However, most current studies calculate the implicit ratings by simply aggregating the scores of all sentiment words appearing in reviews and, thus, ignoring the elements of sentiment degrees and aspects of user reviews. This study addresses this issue by calculating the implicit rating differently, leveraging the rich information in user reviews by using both sentiment words and aspect-sentiment word pairs to enhance the CF performance. It proposes four methods to calculate the implicit ratings on large-scale datasets: the first considers the degree of sentiment words, while the second exploits the aspects by extracting aspect-sentiment word pairs to calculate the implicit ratings. The remaining two methods combine explicit ratings with the implicit ratings generated by the first two methods. The generated ratings are then incorporated into different CF rating prediction algorithms to evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing the CF performance. Evaluative experiments of the proposed methods are conducted on two large-scale datasets: Amazon and Yelp. Results of the experiments show that the proposed ratings improved the accuracy of CF rating prediction algorithms and outperformed the explicit ratings in terms of three predictive accuracy metrics.
Enhancing the Efficiency of a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Based on a Metal Oxide Nanocomposite Gel Polymer Electrolyte

Saidi NM, Omar FS, Numan A, Apperley DC, Algaradah MM, Kasi R, et al.

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2019 Aug 21;11(33):30185-30196.
PMID: 31347822 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b07062

To overcome the critical limitations of liquid-electrolyte-based dye-sensitized solar cells, quasi-solid-state electrolytes have been explored as a means of addressing long-term device stability, albeit with comparatively low ionic conductivities and device performances. Although metal oxide additives have been shown to augment ionic conductivity, their propensity to aggregate into large crystalline particles upon high-heat annealing hinders their full potential in quasi-solid-state electrolytes. In this work, sonochemical processing has been successfully applied to generate fine Co3O4 nanoparticles that are highly dispersible in a PAN:P(VP-co-VAc) polymer-blended gel electrolyte, even after calcination. An optimized nanocomposite gel polymer electrolyte containing 3 wt % sonicated Co3O4 nanoparticles (PVVA-3) delivers the highest ionic conductivity (4.62 × 10-3 S cm-1) of the series. This property is accompanied by a 51% enhancement in the apparent diffusion coefficient of triiodide versus both unmodified and unsonicated electrolyte samples. The dye-sensitized solar cell based on PVVA-3 displays a power conversion efficiency of 6.46% under AM1.5 G, 100 mW cm-2. By identifying the optimal loading of sonochemically processed nanoparticles, we are able to generate a homogenous extended particle network that effectively mobilizes redox-active species through a highly amorphous host matrix. This effect is manifested in a selective 51% enhancement in photocurrent density (JSC = 16.2 mA cm-2) and a lowered barrier to N719 dye regeneration (RCT = 193 Ω) versus an unmodified solar cell. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the highest known efficiency to date for dye-sensitized solar cells based on a sonicated Co3O4-modified gel polymer electrolyte. Sonochemical processing, when applied in this manner, has the potential to make meaningful contributions toward the ongoing mission to achieve the widespread exploitation of stable and low-cost dye-sensitized solar cells.
Fulltext In vitro Evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory Effects of Thymoquinone in Osteoarthritis and in silico Analysis of Inter-Related Pathways in Age-Related Degenerative Diseases

Kalamegam G, Alfakeeh SM, Bahmaid AO, AlHuwait EA, Gari MA, Abbas MM, et al.

Front Cell Dev Biol, 2020;8:646.
PMID: 32793594 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00646

Chronic inflammation is a common underlying factor in osteoarthritis (OA) and most age-related degenerative diseases. As conventional therapies help only in partial alleviation of symptoms in OA, stem cell-based therapies and herbal supplements are being widely explored. Thymoquinone (TQ), an active ingredient of Nigella sativa is reported to have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We evaluated the effects of TQ on bone marrow MSCs (BM-MSCs) derived from OA patients and its interrelated pathways in inflammation and age-related degenerative diseases using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) as well as possible molecular targets using SwissTargetPrediction. BM-MSCs were derived from OA patients and their stemness properties were characterized by studying the MSCs related CD surface marker expression and differentiation into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes. Treatment with TQ (100 nM-5 μM) demonstrated cell death, especially at higher concentrations. MTT assay demonstrated a significant concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability which ranged from 20.04% to 69.76% with higher doses (300 nM, 1 μM, and 5 μM), especially at 48h and 72h. Additional cell viability testing with CellTiter-Blue also demonstrated a significant concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability which ranged from 27.80 to 73.67% with higher doses (300 nM, 1 μM, 3 μM, and 5 μM). Gene expression analysis following treatment of BM-MSCs with TQ (1 and 3 μM) for 48h showed upregulation of the anti-inflammatory genes IL-4 and IL-10. In contrast, the pro-inflammatory genes namely IFN-γ, TNF-α, COX-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-16, and IL-12A although were upregulated, compared to the lower concentration of TQ (1 μM) they were all decreased at 3 μM. The pro-apoptotic BAX gene was downregulated while the SURVIVIN gene was upregulated. IPA of the molecular interaction of TQ in inflammation and age-related degenerative diseases identified canonical pathways directly related to synaptogenesis, neuroinflammation, TGF-β, and interleukin signaling. Further screening led to the identification of 36 molecules that are involved in apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. SwissTargetPrediction of TQ identified potential molecular targets with high probability. TQ exerted anti-inflammatory effects and therefore can be a useful adjuvant along with conventional therapies against inflammation in OA and other age-related degenerative diseases.
Fulltext A Review of Actuation and Sensing Mechanisms in MEMS-Based Sensor Devices

Algamili AS, Khir MHM, Dennis JO, Ahmed AY, Alabsi SS, Ba Hashwan SS, et al.

Nanoscale Res Lett, 2021 Jan 26;16(1):16.
PMID: 33496852 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-021-03481-7

Over the last couple of decades, the advancement in Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) devices is highly demanded for integrating the economically miniaturized sensors with fabricating technology. A sensor is a system that detects and responds to multiple physical inputs and converting them into analogue or digital forms. The sensor transforms these variations into a form which can be utilized as a marker to monitor the device variable. MEMS exhibits excellent feasibility in miniaturization sensors due to its small dimension, low power consumption, superior performance, and, batch-fabrication. This article presents the recent developments in standard actuation and sensing mechanisms that can serve MEMS-based devices, which is expected to revolutionize almost many product categories in the current era. The featured principles of actuating, sensing mechanisms and real-life applications have also been discussed. Proper understanding of the actuating and sensing mechanisms for the MEMS-based devices can play a vital role in effective selection for novel and complex application design.
Outcomes of Long-Term Noninvasive Ventilation Use in Children with Neuromuscular Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AlBalawi MM, Castro-Codesal M, Featherstone R, Sebastianski M, Vandermeer B, Alkhaledi B, et al.

Ann Am Thorac Soc, 2022 01;19(1):109-119.
PMID: 34181865 DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202009-1089OC

Objectives: To determine whether children with neuromuscular disorders using long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV), continuous or bilevel positive airway pressure, have improved health outcomes compared with alternative treatment strategies. Data Sources: This systematic review is an extension of a scoping review. The search strategy used Medical Subject Headings and free-text terms for "child" and "noninvasive ventilation." Studies of humans from 1990 onward were searched in MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL (Ebsco), Cochrane Library (Wiley), and PubMed. The results were reviewed for articles reporting on neuromuscular disorders and health outcomes including mortality, hospitalization, quality of life, lung function, sleep study parameters, and healthcare costs. Data Extraction: Extracted data included study design, study duration, sample size, age, type of NIV, follow-up period, primary disease, and primary and secondary outcome measures. Studies were grouped by primary disease into three groups: spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and other/multiple neuromuscular diseases. Data Synthesis: A total of 50 articles including 1,412 children across 36 different neuromuscular disorders are included in the review. Mortality is lower for children using long-term NIV compared with supportive care across all neuromuscular disease types. Overall, mortality does not differ when comparing the use of NIV with invasive mechanical ventilation, though heterogeneity suggests that mortality with NIV is higher for spinal muscular atrophy type 1 and lower for other/multiple neuromuscular diseases. The impact of long-term NIV on hospitalization rate differed by neuromuscular disease type with lower rates compared with supportive care but higher rates compared with supportive care use for spinal muscular atrophy type 1, and lower rates compared with before NIV for other/multiple neuromuscular diseases. Overall, lung function was unaltered and sleep study parameters were improved from baseline by long-term NIV use. There are few data to assess the impact of long-term NIV use on quality of life and healthcare costs. Conclusions: Long-term NIV for children provides benefit for mortality, hospitalizations, and sleep study parameters for some sub-groups of children with neuromuscular disorders. High risk of bias and low study quality preclude strong conclusions.

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